Indoor-Friendly Fruiting Arbors: Swiftly Expanding Species for Your Home Garden
Indoor gardening just got real with these tasty, speedy fruit tree options for your cozy abode! Who needs a backyard orchard when you can grow quick-growing bananas, lemons, oranges, figs, and more in your living room?
However, it's essential to create the proper environment for these plants to fruit successfully - temperature, humidity, and pollination are crucial factors to consider. But nailing those conditions brings you sweet, juicy payoffs!
Licensed horticulturist Erin Scottberg, head of content at The Sill, and Justin Hancock, horticulturist at Costa Farms, have shared their expert insights on nine fantastic choices for your indoor fruit tree collection:
- Key Lime Bush
Don't be fooled by its name - key lime bush (Citrus x aurantiifolia) is, in fact, a tree (though a more petite one) that can be pruned to your desired size. It's fantastic for bright corners and closed patios. A compact citrus plant that is delighted by sunny windows and patios, it will produce delicious, tangy limes throughout the season. Since it's a speedy grower, it could bear edible, pie-worthy fruits during its inaugural season. What's more, it's self-pollinating!
- Size: 6 feet tall by 3 feet wide
- Growing Conditions: Full sun; well-draining soil
- Dwarf Meyer Lemon
Dwarf Meyer lemon trees (Citrus x meyeri) bloom gleaming lemons in just 2-3 years under pots bathed in sunlight. With fragrant white blossoms, lush leaves, and sweet-tart lemons, you can savor the fruits nearly year-round. Meyer lemons are a hybrid between lemons and mandarins, which means they offer a sweeter flavor.
- Size: 4-6 feet tall by 2 feet wide
- Growing Conditions: Full sun; well-draining, slightly acidic soil
Stay tuned for more indoor fruit tree gems! We'll dive into details on the Chicago hardy fig, Hass avocado tree, cold hardy red pomegranate, dwarf cavendish banana, Calamondin orange, acerola cherry tree, and Nova red raspberry. Let the indoor fruit orchard dream triumphed by fast-growing varieties commence!
Sources:
[1] https://www.thesill.com/[2] https://www.costafarms.com/[3] The Spruce, "The Best Fruiting Plants for Indoor Gardening," accessed March 21, 2023, https://www.thespruce.com/[4] Fine Gardening, "How to Grow Bananas in a Pot," accessed March 21, 2023, https://www.finegardening.com/palm-trees/banana-palm/article20673.aspx
- For a compact citrus plant that thrives in sunny corners, consider growing a Key Lime Bush (Citrus x aurantiifolia) indoors, which can produce tangy limes quickly and is self-pollinating.
- Dwarf Meyer lemon trees (Citrus x meyeri) are another excellent choice for indoor gardening, offering fragrant white blossoms, lush leaves, and sweet-tart lemons within 2-3 years under enough sunlight.
- Martha Stewart's website, home-and-garden magazines, and gardening resources like The Spruce can provide further unique container garden ideas and tips for cultivating home-and-lifestyle friend-friendly indoor fruit trees, advancing the indoor fruit orchard dreams with fast-growing varieties.
